Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Narita Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Narita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,463 in Okinawa versus $1,227 in Narita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,234 in Okinawa versus $1,948 in Narita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,004 in Okinawa versus $2,669 in Narita.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 19% more expensive than Narita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 10% above, Narita is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.50 ¥1,364

$5.63 ¥902

50.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.40 ¥6,802

$41.15 ¥6,601

3.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 ¥940

$5.18 ¥831

13.13%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ¥547

$3.10 ¥497

10.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 ¥211

$0.84 ¥135

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 ¥148

$0.80 ¥129

15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 ¥549

$2.13 ¥342

60.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ¥767

$3.07 ¥492

55.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥301

$1.28 ¥206

46.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 ¥375

$0.86 ¥138

172.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 ¥751

$4.79 ¥768

-2.30%

Eggs

$2.11 ¥338

$2.27 ¥365

-7.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.36 ¥2,624

$10.01 ¥1,605

63.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.01 ¥1,766

$6.45 ¥1,035

70.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.29 ¥4,217

$15.46 ¥2,480

70.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 ¥800

$5.84 ¥936

-14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 ¥431

$3.19 ¥512

-15.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥487

$4.11 ¥659

-26.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 ¥925

$6.10 ¥978

-5.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 ¥575

$3.27 ¥525

9.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 ¥446

$4.16 ¥668

-33.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ¥247

$1.37 ¥220

12.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥142

$0.87 ¥139

1.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 ¥797

$3.23 ¥519

53.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ¥975

$9.63 ¥1,544

-36.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ¥289

$1.74 ¥280

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥460

$2.06 ¥330

39.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 ¥270

$1.66 ¥266

1.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.10 ¥5,630

$55.3 ¥8,868

-36.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 ¥665

$3.39 ¥545

22.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥575

$1.56 ¥250

130.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.62 ¥2,024

$21.78 ¥3,493

-42.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥193

$1.11 ¥178

8.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.4K ¥3.8M

$20.7K ¥3.3M

12.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$18.7K ¥3.0M

-7.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 ¥27.7K

$143 ¥22.9K

20.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.81 ¥4,460

$27.81 ¥4,461

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.37 ¥5,192

$31.70 ¥5,085

2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 ¥8,330

$55.1 ¥8,844

-5.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.08 ¥1,136

$13.65 ¥2,190

-48.13%

Cinema Ticket

$12.67 ¥2,032

$12.43 ¥1,994

1.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$345 ¥55.4K

$277 ¥44.5K

24.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K ¥2.2M

$13.7K ¥2.2M

-1.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.62 ¥7,640

$41.77 ¥6,701

14.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.93 ¥4,640

$28.92 ¥4,639

0.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 ¥11.5K

$61.1 ¥9,805

17.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.9 ¥14.7K

$112 ¥18.0K

-17.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥72.6K

$493 ¥79.1K

-8.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ¥64.5K

$351 ¥56.3K

14.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 ¥150.7K

$881 ¥141.3K

6.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 ¥117.3K

$648 ¥104.0K

12.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,521 ¥1.4M

$4,470 ¥717.0K

90.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 ¥190.8K

$2,019 ¥323.8K

-41.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,791 ¥287.3K

$1,247 ¥200.1K

43.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

-2.44%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Okinawa: June 14, 2026

Last update for Narita: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $453 in Okinawa and $493 in Narita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Okinawa vs $41.00 in Narita for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $320 per month, with Narita cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Okinawa vs Narita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Narita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Okinawa pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $453 in Okinawa versus $493 in Narita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Narita runs roughly 57% less than in Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $345 in Okinawa versus $277 in Narita. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,227 in Narita versus $1,463 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Narita but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Narita the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Okinawa and Narita are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Narita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.